I’m never doing another do-it-yourself project again.

Home Depot, I hate you.

Joann’s, I hate you too.

Pinterest, I hate you the most.

It is clearly obvious Anna’s birthday party is near, and I have dramatically succumbed to the last minute party planning blues. 

Self, you are in trouble.

Here’s the thing: I am 30 years old and know by now that I’m not exactly a patient, follow-the-directions kind of person. It’s a miracle I can even bake cookies considering how much I like to tweak and tinker and leave out ingredients. When it comes to DIY projects, I follow the same vicious cycle. Perhaps you can relate? Here’s how it usually goes:

Step 1: Get really, really excited about super adorable/”easy” Pinterest inspired project. Let’s just take these balloon yarn chandeliers as a “hypothetical” example.

Step 2: Lug the soon-to-be one year old to Joann’s to buy supplies. Underestimate how much yarn needs to be purchased. Come home and discover I didn’t buy glue.

Step 3: Convince myself it’s too hot to start project.

Step 4: Decide that these paper wheels look cute, and these strawberry basil popsicles would be awesome. Start those two projects first.

Step 5: Realize paper wheels and popsicles are trickier (and more time consuming) than I imagined.

Step 6: Take on the front porch re-do.

Step 7: Watch the temps creep up to 100 degrees for three days straight (!!!) Forbid myself from leaving the house; watch Sister Wives instead.

Step 8: Wait until 8:00pm two days before the party to start balloon chandelier project. All of a sudden, there’s wind! The balloons are popping!  I am covered in glue! This is not fun!

Step 9: Give up and eat a cookie.

Does any of this sound familiar? I know that at least one of you (Sarah H) is thinking to yourself, “This is why I don’t do DIY projects” or another person might be thinking, “She’s 1 years old. Get her a balloon and call it done” (Anna Q).

Sigh. You are all smarter than I.

People, here’s what I realized tonight while up to my elbows in corn starch and glue:

I love throwing parties. I love cute decor and perfect details. But, I can get over the actual creating part really fast. I get really into the ideas, the dreaming and the planning, but I often sputter out during implementation. It’s very easy to go from excited party planner to stressed out and not having a good time party planner. But, I refuse to let stupid chandelier balloons stand in the way of having a great time celebrating Anna. If the projects don’t turn out like I’d hoped, it doesn’t matter. There will be plenty of ice cream and a baby smashing her hands in cake. Can it get any better than that? Nope!

P.S. Are you a DIY person? If so, why? Is it about saving money or the joy of crafting? Maybe a little of both? Can you relate?